Prophet not perfected Is6

The prophet Isaiah had been speaking God's word for years when he had a vision that reminded him of just how different God is from even the holiest of men. In his vision Isaiah saw the very Throne of God, and realized just how insignificant he was compared to God. Isaiah's humble reaction to the sight of God is rewarded when an angle "cleanses" Isaiah's mouth with a burning coal. How has God provided significance to your life? Have you humbly realized how great God is?

Are you ready to turn your weapons into tools?

In Isaiah 2:4, God gives us a glimpse into the kind of kingdom He is setting up. In this famous passage, warriors are turning their weapons into tools for cultivating crops. What would happen if the church began to turn the weapons of our words and thoughts into tools for cultivating nourishment?

Do We Really Want to Know "Why?"

The Old Testament Prophets, like Isiah often pulled back the curtain of "what was happening" and "how it was happening" to show the "why." God's people had turned from Him and set their hearts on things that were destructive and that was why God was allowing bad things to happen to His people. In our deepest troubles, we often ask "why" - but I doubt we'd like the answer. Maybe simply asking for God's mercy and understanding to accompany the "why" would help us better respond.

We Don't Think Too Little of You - We Think of You Too Little

In Isaiah 1:23, God rejects the offerings and worship of His people because they are abusing and taking advantage of the defenseless or politically weak. Are there times when we ignore the plight of our disenfranchised brothers in order to push our own agenda ahead? How does that kind of behavior change the way God views our worship?

Note: the dialog above references James 2:16, which states that these words are not helpful. 

The Loneliness of "Not Dying"

Just as an un-planted seed remains alone, we as people will be alone until we "die" to our selfish natures. Jesus demonstrated the principle by dying on the cross to bring us into His family. How are we as his representatives living this out today? Are we willing to have a little less, so that someone

else has enough to survive?

Safe Under God's Wing

While the world gives us much reason to be afraid, the message of Christ is one of safety and security. Psalms 91 illustrates this safety as God putting His wings around us. The illustration might be even more significant when we remember that the wing and feathers are what most defines a bird as a "bird." So, with the thing that most defines Him, God protects us.

Seeing the destruction around us

Psalm 91:8 assures us we will only see destruction and not experience it. As Christians, we are well-versed with physical suffering, such as the apostle Paul experienced. We may experience suffering in this world, but we can be assured that God has not forsaken us, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, has also experienced this king of pain. Our assurance is not for relief, but for strength to endure.